UCISD Celebrates

The Office of the Superintendent recognizes outstanding instructional and non-instructional employees in Uvalde CISD.

The Employee of the Month for December is awarded to Joseph Olan, Academic Dean at Uvalde High School. Mr. Olan has honorably served our country in the Army and now serves the students of Uvalde CISD. Mr. Olan earned a bachelor’s degree from New Mexico State University, a master’s degree from the University of Houston and is working on completing a Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) from Johns Hopkins University in the summer of 2018. Mr. Olan is new to the Uvalde district and a blessing to have at the high school campus. Mr. Olan has been serving in the education field since 2008 in a variety of positions gaining a wealth of knowledge and experience. He currently holds the following certifications, Texas Teachers Evaluation and Support Systems Certified Appraiser, Texas Bilingual Education Supplemental, EC-12 Special Education, Composite Social Studies and Texas Principal Certification. Mr. Olan is an excellent role model for the campus. He lives his life with one single motto, “Anything for our students!” A fellow colleague shares, “Mr. Olan defines the qualities of every Coyote Character trait. His heart and vision are absolutely in the best interest of our students and school. He never takes a break and keeps working for that purpose.” Please help me congratulate Joseph Olan!

This monthly recognition began in October 2014 utilizing an online form. District employees can be nominated by their supervisors, colleagues, community members, students, parents, etc. on an ongoing basis. A selection committee meets to review all nominations for the month to select one Employee of the Month. Nomination Forms are located on the Uvalde C.I.S.D. website (www.ucisd.net) on the

UCISD Celebrates webpage. Nominations are to be submitted to the Office of the Superintendent, via e-mail to mgonzales4594@uvaldecisd.net, interoffice mail or dropped off at Central Office. Employee of the Month will be announced in the Superintendent’s Monday Message. The purpose of this award is to recognize outstanding full-time Uvalde C.I.S.D. employees.

The Office of the Superintendent recognizes outstanding instructional and non-instructional employees in Uvalde CISD.

The Employee of the Month for November is awarded to Virginia Eliott, Assistant Campus Administrator at Morales Junior High School. Ms. Eliott earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a master’s degree from Sul Ross. Ms. Eliott has served our district for five years in many capacities. Ms. Eliott has a passion for educating and supporting our students inside the classroom, as a chaperone for a leadership academy, as an instructional coach, as a cheer coach, and as an assistant principal. She wears many hats with grace and elegance. She leads with her heart and is willing to support the district as a whole. Ms. Eliott took on the Morales Junior High Cheer Team to provide cheer and leadership for our junior high students. She is now extending her leadership to the UHS Cheer Team. Ms. Eliott’s heart leads her actions and dedication. Please help me congratulate Virginia Eliott!

This monthly recognition began in October 2014 utilizing an online form. District employees can be nominated by their supervisors, colleagues, community members, students, parents, etc. on an ongoing basis. A selection committee meets to review all nominations for the month to select one Employee of the Month. Nomination Forms are located on the Uvalde C.I.S.D. website (www.ucisd.net) on the UCISD Celebrates webpage. Nominations are to be submitted to the Office of the Superintendent, via e-mail to mgonzales4594@uvaldecisd.net, interoffice mail or dropped off at Central Office. Employee of the Month will be announced in the Superintendent’s Monday Message. The purpose of this award is to recognize outstanding full-time Uvalde C.I.S.D. employees.

October is National Principals Month, let us pay tribute to our outstanding administrators in our district. Thank you for setting high standards for instruction, achievement, character, and developing a positive school environment. U.C.I.S.D. recognizes the essential role that principals play in making a school great. #thankaprincipal

I would like to take this opportunity to recognize our employee of the month. This employee is being recognized for being an outstanding example of what instructors in Uvalde C.I.S.D. should achieve to be. Jennifer Griffin is an exceptional instructional coach at Flores Elementary. She has been working tirelessly to bring together teachers from two different schools into the new Flores Elementary Campus. She has spent her personal time to get classrooms set up for teachers, plan professional development, answered countless texts and emails from teaching staff. It is evident that Jennifer feels personally responsible to every student and teacher at Flores Elementary. She has taken it upon herself to be the unofficial mentor to all the new teachers. Jennifer has strong relationships with all staff members. She recognizes the positive work that each teacher is doing, while assisting staff members however she can. She is available 24/7 for whatever a teacher may need. Jennifer jumps into mediate misunderstandings, creates team building activities, and loves her staff. Jennifer has worked with the administrative team at Flores Elementary to remind teachers that the heart of education is within each individual teacher. Outside of her work hours, Jennifer designed professional development sessions so that every teacher would have the information they needed to kick of the school year on the right path. She empowered other teachers to lead small groups of teachers through professional development sessions building teachers’ capacity as experts in the field. Jennifer’s love for students and staff is palpable and apparent in all of her actions. Jennifer is a tireless worker. She has practically lived at Flores Elementary. She will do whatever is necessary to make sure that students and staff are supported. She has willingly given her personal time to make sure that little details are taken care of to take something off of teachers' plates. Jennifer consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty. She has stayed nights and weekends at Flores to make sure that the campus is a great place for students to learn and teachers to teach. Jennifer is exceptionally caring, empathetic, and personable. She greets every child that she sees with affection. Jennifer builds strong relationships with teachers and makes sure that she always stays positive. She has a tremendously challenging job and always rises to the challenge with optimism, perseverance, and a smile. Uvalde C.I.S.D. is blessed that Jennifer Griffin is a Coyote; she is definitely loyal and true. Please help me congratulate Jennifer Griffin!

The Employee of the Month award for
March is awarded to Blair Dorris, instructional coach at
Morales Junior
High! Mrs. Dorris has served the students of our
district for 13 years with love and compassion. She is often
described as one of the strongest advocates for Uvalde C.I.S.D.
She can always be found with a smile and a
positive attitude 100% of the time. Mrs. Dorris has served our
district in many capacities from teacher, instructional coach
to a student organization sponsor, there is no
limit to her service. Most recently Mrs. Dorris was asked
to teach ELAR classes in addition to her instructional coach
duties. When Blair was asked to go back into
the classroom she never hesitated and agreed to do it
all while smiling. She was willing to do this because she carries
in heart that our students come first. In addition,
she has spent countless hours on evenings and weekends working with data to build
the campus
groups for instructional purposes. Mrs. Dorris actions of support extends past the
classroom, PLC
room, and to include a recent drive with a friend to San Antonio who needed her
support and
her company to help not feel anxious and nervous. Mrs.
Dorris also serves the campus as a sponsor for the Sigma Pearl Girls. She
dedicates quality
time to
working with a group of young girls in building self esteem, leadership
qualities and
providing them
the opportunity to see the many future possibilities. In addition to leading this
chapter of
the Girl Scouts she is also very involved in her younger daughter’s Girl Scout Troop.
We are
proud to announce Blair Dorris as our Employee of the Month for March!

The Employee of the Month award for February is awarded to three individuals in the Child
Nutrition Department. We are proud to announce Aurora Barrera, Chef Marcus Lopez and Chef
Rene Guerrero as our Employees of the Month. These individuals have extended the services of
our Child Nutrition Department beyond preparing and serving meals during breakfast and lunch.
You will often see these individuals on campuses interacting with our students in many programs
such as Roving Chef, Harvest Markets, Healthy Eating presentations and much more. The Child
Nutrition Department is also involved in events that take them out into our community to support
our students and staff. You may have seen them at the Tough Cookie 5k, Principals in the Park,
as well as catering events such as the Fine Arts Review, Military Ball and the Uvalde CISD
Dinner and Awards Ceremony. These dedicated individuals work countless hours on the
weekends as well as early morning hours to prepare for catering requests within our school
district and for the community.

This “Powerhouse Team” also supports our UHS Culinary Arts program and Chef Marcus. With
the support of his team, Chef Marcus is able to run a “Breakfast Club” for Culinary Arts
students, organize field trips to Five Star Restaurants, provide First Aid Certifications and has
begun plans to add a Food Trailer to the lunch service at Uvalde High School. In addition Chef
Marcus teaches three classes at the High School as part of our Culinary Arts strand. It is amazing
what can be accomplished when individuals work together as a team! Please join our district in
congratulating and thanking Aurora Barrera, Chef Marcus Lopez and Chef Rene Guerrero for
being excellent role models and for all that they do for our district!

This monthly recognition began in October 2014 utilizing an online form. District employees can
be nominated by their supervisors, colleagues, community members, students, parents, etc. on an
ongoing basis. A selection committee meets to review all nominations for the month to select one
Employee of the Month. Nomination Forms are located on the Uvalde C.I.S.D. website
(www.ucisd.net) on the Employee of the Month webpage. Nominations are to be submitted to
the Office of the Superintendent, via e-mail to mgonzales4594@uvaldecisd.net, interoffice mail
or dropped off at Central Office. Employee of the Month will be announced in the

Uvalde C.I.S.D. has partnered with IBC Bank and KVOU Radio to promote and encourage scholastic excellence among students. Students enter an essay-writing contest with the topic “Why I Should be the Scholar of the Month.” Teachers choose one composition to represent their classroom. Compositions are turned into a campus leadership team, which selected one winner from sixth and seventh grade to represent each grade level. The Scholar of the Month recognition took place on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 at Flores Middle School to recognize 6th grade student Madison McCullough and 7th grade student Briana Mata.

Students were presented with a $100 minor savings account courtesy of IBC Bank, will be mentioned in congratulatory announcements on KVOU Radio, and enjoyed a congratulatory lunch with school administration, parents, representatives from IBC Bank and KVOU Radio prepared especially by Southwest Excellence Foodservice for the special recognition.

Briana’s winning essay included the following statements; “Since I was younger, I always valued the importance of education. I always strive to do my absolute best in every single class with a 100% effort because I believe you should do your best in everything to the end with all of the effort you can put in. That’s my motivation in school and anything else I seek to accomplish.”

Madison’s winning essay included the following statements; “Try your hardest, even when times are tough. That is a motto that I have used for myself for as long as I can remember. School has never been easy for me. I am honored to be nominated for Scholar of the Month. I am deserving of the honor because I am committed to my work and I help my school to be a better place.”

The Employee
of the Month for January is awarded to Sarah Herndon, Secretary for
Transportation. Sarah is a remarkable team
player! Upon joining the Transportation Department Sarah served
a dual role continuing to support the Athletic Director during the search for
just the
right candidate
to fill the secretary position for about two months. Sarah was gracious in
supporting Mrs.
Cardenas in her new role as Athletic Secretary. She is always available to
provide the
Athletic Department, as well as all departments,
any necessary support needed upon request. Sarah leads
by example and is always ready to lend a helping hand
regardless of her job description. Mr. Ramirez shares,
“Our staff is definitely stronger with her and she
always looks for ways to encourage us all to work together.”
Please join our district in congratulating and thanking
Mrs. Sarah Herndon for being an excellent role model
and for all that she does for our district!